What advice would you give to someone who is moving to Abuja, Nigeria?
Abuja is the city of packaging!
Before I moved to Abuja, i lived in Edo State, Benin City precisely. I do not know if you know Benin but it's a very quiet and “normal” city. I used to hear and read about “the Abuja lifestyle” and I always wondered why people did so much. Till i got a job and moved to Abuja.
I will tell you a story and i will drop my points (or advice) within my story.
I am an Architect by profession and for someone who had practiced mostly in Edo State and a few times in Lagos, bringing my practice to a mega city wasn't as easy as I envisioned.
••If you want to meet people, Abuja is the place but then to take the part, you have to look the part.
I finally secured a meeting with a potential client I met online. We fixed a date to meet at a choice restaurant in Wuse II.
••Transportation is pretty cheap in Abuja.
I live in Dutse. I took a taxi to Wuse market. It's #150 from Dutse, then i joined another to my destination, #100. When i got there, i came down from the taxi, looking sharp but a bit tired and my client was just driving in as well. I walked up to him, greeted him and introduced myself and he asked “Did your car break down?” I innocently replied and said “No sir, I do not have a car yet”.
I noticed his disposition changed a bit. He didn't say anything more, we went in, had the meeting and we dispersed. He even offered to drop me. But he doesn't call me back. 2 weeks later, i call him and I ask about his job. He says “well, I'm not quite sure about you. I do not know an Architect who doesn't have a car. How would you go to site? Would you be jumping taxis all the time? I got another person who is Mobile. Maybe next time”.
I was shocked. Mostly because where i was coming from, nobody had ever told me that i needed a car to design a brilliant structure for anyone. But i had learnt a lesson.
••If you have to live in Abuja, you MUST have a car, and a clean one at that. Its a necessity. Somehow, it affects how people look at you and weigh you.
I secured another meeting with another client and this time i was wise enough to use an UBER. I didn't lose this job entirely, i secured only the design aspect but i lost the construction(also because I wasn't mobile).
••In Abuja, accommodation is cheap in extreme areas but a little more expensive in town.
The problem with staying in these areas is that you don't get to meet a lot of people who would eventually add anything meaningful to your life, and then if you eventually meet someone in town, and you have meetings with the person, going back home can be very stressful.
••There is alot of fake life in Abuja, if you are not careful, you will fall a victim.
••There is night life in Abuja, its not a crazy as Lagos but then if you are someone who is an extrovert, you would discover some really nice places.
••Abuja will teach you naturally how to be classy.
••If you are someone who has low self esteem, you will be carried away. If you are someone who has “big eyes” you will indulge in corrupt practices- you will do anything to belong.
When moving to Abuja, Come with the mindset of building connections, meet people that will change and grow your business and then take you to the next level of greatness.
Beyond this, every other thing is a walkover!
What advice would you give to someone who is moving to Abuja, Nigeria?
Abuja is the city of packaging!
Before I moved to Abuja, i lived in Edo State, Benin City precisely. I do not know if you know Benin but it's a very quiet and “normal” city. I used to hear and read about “the Abuja lifestyle” and I always wondered why people did so much. Till i got a job and moved to Abuja.
I will tell you a story and i will drop my points (or advice) within my story.
I am an Architect by profession and for someone who had practiced mostly in Edo State and a few times in Lagos, bringing my practice to a mega city wasn't as easy as I envisioned.
••If you want to meet people, Abuja is the place but then to take the part, you have to look the part.
I finally secured a meeting with a potential client I met online. We fixed a date to meet at a choice restaurant in Wuse II.
••Transportation is pretty cheap in Abuja.
I live in Dutse. I took a taxi to Wuse market. It's #150 from Dutse, then i joined another to my destination, #100. When i got there, i came down from the taxi, looking sharp but a bit tired and my client was just driving in as well. I walked up to him, greeted him and introduced myself and he asked “Did your car break down?” I innocently replied and said “No sir, I do not have a car yet”.
I noticed his disposition changed a bit. He didn't say anything more, we went in, had the meeting and we dispersed. He even offered to drop me. But he doesn't call me back. 2 weeks later, i call him and I ask about his job. He says “well, I'm not quite sure about you. I do not know an Architect who doesn't have a car. How would you go to site? Would you be jumping taxis all the time? I got another person who is Mobile. Maybe next time”.
I was shocked. Mostly because where i was coming from, nobody had ever told me that i needed a car to design a brilliant structure for anyone. But i had learnt a lesson.
••If you have to live in Abuja, you MUST have a car, and a clean one at that. Its a necessity. Somehow, it affects how people look at you and weigh you.
I secured another meeting with another client and this time i was wise enough to use an UBER. I didn't lose this job entirely, i secured only the design aspect but i lost the construction(also because I wasn't mobile).
••In Abuja, accommodation is cheap in extreme areas but a little more expensive in town.
The problem with staying in these areas is that you don't get to meet a lot of people who would eventually add anything meaningful to your life, and then if you eventually meet someone in town, and you have meetings with the person, going back home can be very stressful.
••There is alot of fake life in Abuja, if you are not careful, you will fall a victim.
••There is night life in Abuja, its not a crazy as Lagos but then if you are someone who is an extrovert, you would discover some really nice places.
••Abuja will teach you naturally how to be classy.
••If you are someone who has low self esteem, you will be carried away. If you are someone who has “big eyes” you will indulge in corrupt practices- you will do anything to belong.
When moving to Abuja, Come with the mindset of building connections, meet people that will change and grow your business and then take you to the next level of greatness.
Beyond this, every other thing is a walkover!
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